Driver/Operator Terms Flashcards
Acceptance test
Pre-service test performed by the purchasing jurisdiction to in sure that a new fire apparatus performs to all bid specifications and NFPA 1901
Alley dock exercise
Tests the driver/operator’s ability to move the vehicle backward within a restricted area such as an alley dock, or fire station without hitting the walls and to bring the vehicle to a smooth stop close to the rear wall
Application rate
Min amount of finished foam that must be applied to a fire per min per square meter (square foot) in order to extinguish the fire
Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF)
Commonly referred to as “A-Triple F”, this Class B foam is a synthetic compound consisting of hydrocarbon and fluorochemical surfactants, solvents (high boiling point) and water
ATC
Automatic Traction Control- helps improve traction on slippery roads, by reducing drive wheel over spin
Auxiliary cooling devices
Devices that function to control the temp of coolant in the apparatus engine during pumping operations
Auxiliary engine-driven pump
Fire department that are powered by gasoline or diesel engines, which are independent of the engine used to dive the apparatus
Average daily consumption
Average of the total amount of water used in water distribution system over a period of one year
Bank Down Method
Technique for applying firefighting foam where the foam stream trickles down onto the surface of the fuel
Bleeder valve
Valve on a gate intake that allows air from an incoming supply line to be bled off before allowing water into the fire pump
Boiling Point
Temp at which a liquid absorbs enough heat to change to a vapor
Breathing air compressors
Engine-driven appliances that take atmospheric air, purify it and compress it
CAFS
Compressed Air Foam System
Cascade systems-
Large breathing air cylinders that are connected together in banks
Cavitation
Condition where water is being discharged from a fire department pumper faster than its coming in
Cellar nozzle
Specialized nozzle used in basement fires, which is lowered through the floor or through some other suitable opening also known as distributors
Centrifugal pump
Pump that is classified as a non positive displacement pump that impairs velocity to the water and converts it to pressure within the pump it self
Change over
Moving the transfer valve on a fire pump from pressure to volume and visa versa
Chemical foam
Firefighter foam produced by the reaction of two chemicals mixed together. An absolute type of foam that has been widely replaced by mechanical foams
Chimney Nozzle
Specialized nozzle developed to attack chimney flue fires the nozzle delivers a very fine misty fog come which can put the fire out quickly with out causing damage to the flue liner due to sudden cooling
Cisterns
Underground water storage receptacles that can be used for firefighting operations and normally found in areas that are not serviced by a hydrant
Class A foam
Mechanical foam product containing specialty hydrocarbon surfactants to improve drain time and used to extinguish class A fires or used in exposure protection
Cold Zone
Area outside the warm zone where workers are not required to wear personal protective clothing and is generally considered safe. Also the location of the command post, staging area and triage. Also known as the support zone, green zone
Collapse Zone
Should be equal to 1 1/2 the height of the building driver/operator manual quotes at least height of the building
Combination system
Means of moving water that uses a combination of the direct pumping system and gravity system
Condensed Q formula
Formula that was developed for fire ground operations in which friction loss can be determined for 3, 4, and 5 inches hose
Confined space turn around
Driving exercise that tests the driver/operator’s ability to turn the vehicle around 180 degrees within a confined space
Constant flow nozzle
Nozzle that is designed to flow a specific amount of water at a specific nozzle discharge pressure on a small pattern
Constant Pressure relay methods
Relay pumping method that establishes the max flow available from a particular relay setup by using a constant pressure in the system
Contamination Zone
Area between the hot zone and clod zone which is considered safe for workers to enter briefly without special protective clothing also known as the warm zone, limited access zone and yellow zone
Deck gun
Master stream appliance mounted on the fire apparatus deck which is permanently connected to the fire pump via pipe also called turret pipe or deck pipe
Deflection
As it relates to fog streams- a turning or state of being turned; a turning from a straight line or given course; a bending; a deviation
Deluge set
Master stream appliance consisting of a short length of large diameter hose with a large nozzle or large play pipe supported at the discharge end by tripod
Department of Transportation DOT
Federal agency that establishes the basic requirements for licensing drivers
Dependable lift
Height a column of water may be lifted in sufficient quantity in order to provide a reliable flow rate
Diminishing clearance exercise
A driving exercise that measure the driver/operator’s ability to steer the apparatus in a straight line to judge distance from wheel to object and to stop at finish line
Direct pumping system
Method of moving water that utilizes on or more pumps that take water from a primary source and discharge it through a filtration and treatment process, and finally forces eater into a distribution system
Distributors
Grid arranged of smaller mains serving fire hydrants and blocks of consumers
Drafting
Process where water is obtained from a static water source and drawn into a fire pump which is positioned above the water surface
Flow pressure
Forward velocity pressure of water measured at its discharge point
Flow meter
Device used to measure the flow rate in gallons/min (L/min) that is being discharged from a pumping apparatus
Foam proportional
Mechanical devices attached to the hose line that introduces measured amounts of foam concentrate into the water stream 2 types of devices are commonly used an educator an injector
Foam proportioning
Amount of foam concentrate added to water to create a finishes foam usually expressed as a percentage solution such as 0.5% solution, or 5 parts foam concentration to 95 parts water
Foam tender
Self propelled firefighter apparatus designed specifically to carry large quantities of foam concentrate to an incident site foam tenders carry no water and there fore must attach to an on site water supply (such as hydrant)
Forward lay
When hose is laid from the water source to the fire
Friction loss
As it relates to the fire service- that part of the total pressure lost while forcing water through pipe fittings fire hose and adapters
Front-mounted pumpers
Fire pumps that are mounted between the front bumper and the grill of the apparatus
Gravity dump
Relying on the earths gravity to dump water from a tender to a portable water holding devices
Gravity system
Means of moving water source located at a higher elevation that the distribution system in which it is servicing
Ground reservoirs
Man made impoundments used for drafting operations, that have the same characteristics of a pond or small lake
Hand method
Technique used by driver/operator over the years to determine FL in 2 1/2 hose utilizing finger counting
Head
Height of a water supply above the discharge orifice
High pressure
Fog nozzles-operate at pressure up to 800 psi
Hydraulic calculations
Units that are either manual mechanical or electronic that calculate FL in a variety of hose lay
Hydrostatic test
Manufacturer’s test of a new fire apparatus to determine if the pump system can tolerate the pressure and service demands encounter during fire fighting field conditions
Impinge
Strike or dash about or against; clashing with a sharp collision to come together with force
Induction
Process of foam proportioning in which the pressure of a water stream siphons (inducts) foam concentrate into the fire hose stream
Intake pressure relief valve
Valves which are intended to reduce the possibility of damaging a fire pump and/or discharge hose line in the event of a water hammer when valves are closed too quickly or intake pressure rise dramatically
Dry foam
Class A foam mixture containing low water and high air content enabling the foam to adhere to surfaces for exposure protection
Dry hydrant
Onshore connection consisting of a length of pipe equipped with a strainer that extends into water supply source
Dual pumping
When a strong hydrant is used to supply 2 pumpers which allows shorter hose lays and utilization of available water
Dump site
Area of a water shuttle operation which is located near the emergency where water tenders can dump their water supply into portable water tanks to be accessible by attack pumper
Dump valve
Large tank discharge mounted on a pumper or tender that allows the water tank to be emptied quickly
Eductor, in-line
Device attached to a fire hose that siphons foam concentrate from a container and mixes it with the water stream to create a foam solution
Elevated master stream
Large capacity nozzles that are designed to be mounted at the end of fire department aerial apparatus thus elevating the stream
Elevation pressure
Loss or gain of pressure with a hose line due to the change in elevation between the nozzle and the fire pump
Fill site
Water source of a water shuttle operation
Junction box
A unit that allows several electrical devices to be supplied by one main power cord from an electrical source
Ladder pipe
Master stream device used in conjunction with fire department aerial ladders
Lantern ring
Spacer supplied with a fire pump packing to provide cooling and lubrication
Latent heat of vaporization
Quantity of heat absorbed by a substance when it changes from a liquid to a vapor
Level I staging
Type of staging used during an emergency response 2 companies performing like function are dispatched involves the first due-company to proceed directly to the scene and the other to stage at least one block away from the scene
Level II staging
Staging procedure that is executed when numerous emergency vehicles are dispatched to a scene in which additional units are sent to a staffing area established by the IC
Master stream
Any fire stream that is too large to be controlled without mechanical aid
Maximum daily consumption
Max total amount of water that is used in a water distribution system during a 24 hour period within a three year period
Maximum distance relay method
Relay pumping method that involves flowing a predetermined volume of water for a max distance that can be pumped through a particular hose lay
Maximum lift
Max height to which any amount of water can be raised through hard intake hose to a fire pump
Mechanical foam
Firefighting foam produced by the mixing of foam concentrate with water and then aerated (mixed with air)
Midipumper
Quick attack pumpers, designed to handle small fires that do not require the water capacity or the personnel needed for a larger pumper normally have pump capacity of 1000gpm
Midship pump
Fire pump which is mounted in the center of a fire apparatus
Minipumper
Small quick-attack pumpers designed to handle small fires that do not require the water capacity or the personnel needed for a larger pumper most have pumps with the capacity of no larger than 500gpm
Monitor
Master stream appliance in which the stream can be changed while water is being discharged monitors can be mixed, portable or combination
Natural static water supply sources
Natural bodies of water such as lakes, ponds, streams, rivers and oceans that can be used to draft water into a fire pump for firefighting operations
Net pump discharge pressure
Pump discharge pressure adjusted for the effects of altitude and intake hose and pump system FL
Normal operating pressure
Amount of water pressure that exists in a water distribution system during periods of normal consumption demand
Nurse tanker
Larger tender or tanker stayed at a fire scene, which serves as a portable reservoir during a water shuttle operation also known as nurse tender
Opticom system
Common system for controlling traffic lights, that involves the use of special strobe lights, that involve the use of special strobe lights, called emitters, on the fire apparatus that activates sensors on the traffic lights
